Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
This psalm concerns the king. But the question is which king? It may have been David. There is much that might apply to him. Perhaps on his recovery from some sickness, or on his return from some signal victory over his enemies, or on the occasion of his birthday or some great anniversary, David and his people may have rejoiced before the Lord with the voice of joy and praise. But a greater than David is here. If the psalm in part is true of David, it finds its highest and most complete fulfilment in David' s Sou and Lord, and in the glorious salvation which he has accomplished for his people. We know that Jesus is a King. As a King he was announced by Gabriel (Luke 1:32); as a King he was worshipped in his cradle by the Wise Men (Matthew 2:11); as a King he was rejected by the Jews, persecuted by the chief priests, and crucified by Pilate (John 19:19). And as a King he rose from the dead, was received up into glory, and now rules in power in heaven and upon earth (1 Timothy 6:15). To this day and everywhere Jesus receives royal honours—his people say as with one voice and one heart, in the words of the ancient hymn, "Thou art the King of glory, O Christ!" The burden of this psalm may be said to be, "Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King."
I. BECAUSE OF HIS FAVOUR WITH GOD. (Psalms 21:1-3.) Other kings have been honoured of God, but none like Jesus. From the cradle to the cross we find continual proof and token of the favour of God towards him (Luke 2:52; Luke 9:35; John 3:35; John 8:29). The secret was in the perfect accord between the Father and the Son, and the absolute and complete surrender of the Son to do his Father' s will. What was said of the land of Israel, and still more tenderly of the house of the Lord, is true in the higher sense of God' s dear Son, "Mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually" (Deuteronomy 11:12; 1 Kings 9:3).
II. BECAUSE OF THE GREAT SALVATION WHICH HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED. (Psalms 21:1, Psalms 21:5.)
1. This salvation was very dear to him. It was "his heart' s desire."
2. This salvation was obtained by a stupendous sacrifice. "Life" (Psalms 21:4). We may take the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane as the true interpretation of this passage (Matthew 27:38 44). There we see Jesus in an agony. There we see him "asking life," thrice, with strong crying and tears. And there we see him submitting, with the truest faith and love, to the holy will of God, which decreed that he should die that sinners might be saved (Matthew 27:53, Matthew 27:54; John 10:17, John 10:18; Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 2:15).
3. This salvation has secured inestimable benefits to mankind. (Psalms 21:6; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 2 Corinthians 5:15; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:4-6.)
III. BECAUSE OF THE SURE TRIUMPH OF HIS CAUSE AND KINGDOM. (Psalms 21:7-13.)
1. Certain. (Psalms 21:8.) Might here is right. God' s word is pledged, and what he has promised he is able to perform. The King' s strength is still in God, and through him all opposition shall be overthrown.
2. Complete. (Psalms 21:9-12.) The same power that is able to crush and confound the foe is arrayed in defence of God' s people. The end is as the beginning—praise. It is like an anticipation of the song of Moses and the Lamb of the Apocalypse (Revelation 15:3).—WF.